Arnold
1957–1962 · 10k Rolled Gold Plate / Stainless Steel · Manual Wind
About the Arnold
The Arnold ran from 1957 through 1962, giving it a solid five-year production run in Hamilton's dress watch lineup. It's built on the caliber 673, a 17-jewel manual wind movement, and housed in a 10K yellow rolled gold case with a stainless steel back. The dial is where the Arnold makes its statement: an embossed surface with a flush gold marker zone, giving it a two-toned, textured look that was distinctly mid-century in character. No hour numerals, just gold markers against that concentric circle texture.
Finding one in honest, original condition means paying close attention to that dial. The embossed, textured surface is genuinely difficult to refinish well, and a poorly redone dial loses the crisp definition in the concentric circle pattern that makes the Arnold worth having in the first place. The gold marker zone should read cleanly against the texture, not look muddy or touched up.
From the Catalog
Hamilton described the Arnold in 1957 as featuring a 10K yellow rolled gold case, stainless steel back, and an embossed dial with a flush gold marker zone. It retailed for $47.50 with a bracelet, or $42.50 on a strap.
Hamilton Catalog Images
1957
1958
1959
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1961
What to Look For
| Dial | Look closely at the embossed concentric circle texture. It should be sharp and uniform, not worn flat or smeared. The flush gold marker zone should have clean edges where it meets the textured field. Any refinishing on this dial tends to show, so be skeptical of anything that looks too smooth or too even. |
| Crystal | Check for chips, crazing, or deep scratches. A worn crystal can be replaced, but make sure the seller accounts for that in the price. |
| Movement | The caliber 673 is a capable manual wind, but dried oil is a real concern on any example that hasn't been serviced in years. Even modest friction from degraded lubricants can stop the movement or affect rate. Ask about service history, and wind it gently to feel for any roughness or hesitation. |
| Case | The rolled gold surface will show wear over time, particularly on the lugs and case sides. Light wear is expected and honest, but look for any areas where the gold layer has worn through to the base metal. The case back is stainless steel and can be stubborn to open without the right tools, so don't let pry marks on the edge pass without comment. |
| Crown | Check that the crown winds smoothly and sets the hands without slipping or grinding. The set lever spring on these movements is known to be fragile, so any stiffness or irregularity in hand-setting is worth investigating before purchase. |
The Movement
The caliber 673 is a 17-jewel manual wind movement made by Hamilton in the United States. It's a reliable, straightforward hand-winder with a subseconds dial at the 6 o'clock position. Like most American-made Hamilton movements of this era, it rewards regular servicing and holds up well when properly maintained.